Hawes

Hawes is at the very heart of the stunning Yorkshire Dales National Park and an incredible place to visit.It has long been a thriving market town and is home to the famous and tasty Wensleydale Cheese. The town features several craft workshops, antique and other speciality shops that are a pure pleasure to explore and excellent for gifts that are unique and unusual.

Hawes was so named as it means a 'pass between mountains', and Hawes stands between Buttertubs and Fleet Moss mountains. The town is renowned as an excellent centre for walking and touring Wensleydale and the adjoining dales of Swaledale, Dentdale, Garsdale, Cotterdale, Wharfedale and Chapel-le-Dale. To get a feel for the town, the Hawes Town Trail, Millennium Walk or Pennine Way are excellent starting points and lead you to some beautiful sites and buildings.

Tuesdays is always our busiest day as it is market day. The whole community converges to shop en-masse. Shoppers visit the local auction as well as the well stocked indoor and outdoor markets. Hawes has always been a market town and it shows with an atmosphere on Tuesdays that echoes the past.

Anglers who are visiting Hawes will enjoy time spent at the Blackburn Farm Trout Fishery. Fly fishing and rod hire are available at this trout pool set in picturesque farmland. The 1-acre water is stocked with home-reared rainbow trout (average weight 800g). There is also a footpath giving panoramic views of the dale. Over at the Hawes and High Abbotside Angling Association River Fishing anglers can get a day, weekly or season ticket for brown trout and grayling fishing.

The well known Dales Countryside Museum tells the story of the Yorkshire Dales landscape and people, past and present. Events, demonstrations of traditional crafts and changing exhibitions help bring the Museum alive. Hands on, interactive exhibits make it fun for children too.